How is epilepsy regarded now?

Epilepsy in the 21st Century

• Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA)
  • The amendment was signed by President Bush on September 25, 2008, and it will go into effect January 1, 2009.
  • The original law offers protection against discrimination on the basis of disability. Many individuals with epilespsy, however, lost protection under this law. Some people with epilepsy were able to prove that their condition was a disability under the ADA, but others had trouble proving that their epilepsy met the narrow definition of disability outlined in the original ADA.
  • "Without the law's protection, an employer could explicitly refuse to hire a person simply because that person has epilepsy" ("Legal Rights News Brief").
  • The ADAAA clarifies Congress' intent for people with epilespy to be covered by the law and protected from discrimination.
  • The ADAAA maintains that employers must provide resonable accomodations for epileptic employees.
  • The law applies in the workplace, day care centers, schools, hotels, restaurants, concert venues, correctional institutions, and public transportation.
• Breakthroughs in Epilepsy Research
  • "In the past, when someone was diagnosed with epilepsy, it was often regarded as an irreversible outcome. Treatment options were limited and hope for a better quaility of life was minimal. Now we're making strides with epilepsy research and continuing to move forward. As a result, a majority of people with epilepsy are living life seizure free" ("New and Exciting Breakthroughs in Epilepsy Research").